The motorcycle raced along the dry dirt road, kicking up a long snake of yellow dust behind it. Thanks to the protective glass canopy, Roland wasn't covered in dust and looking a mess, but he still looked travel-worn.
After a day of sightseeing and traveling, Roland entered a vast, flat plain.
The area was sparsely populated and desolate.
Wilderness between cities like this was difficult for the police to patrol, making it a breeding ground for petty thieves and bandits. They weren't capable of much and usually just robbed merchants passing through. By contrast, proper highways teeming with traffic saw fewer robberies, since passing caravans were prepared for trouble.
Riding his motorcycle along the way, Roland had run into several groups blocking the road to rob travelers. The outcome went without saying: the bandits failed to take anything from him, and instead got thoroughly plundered themselves.
Hmph. How could mere mortals possibly stand a chance against him?
It was dangerous out here. It was a wonder Bulma had wandered around alone in the original story without getting into trouble.
As he drew closer to Mount Paozu, the landscape gradually grew greener, and rolling mountain ranges became more common.
Dusk was approaching.
Roland parked his motorcycle at the side of the road. Once he climbed off, he turned into a streak of white light and sped toward the distant mountains. Before long, he came back dragging a huge beast.
He tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and took out his cooking utensils, then set about preparing the beast he'd caught. Saiyans had enormous appetites. Anything that had once been alive was edible once its organs and harmful parts were removed.
After enjoying a hearty meal, Roland saw that it was getting late and decided not to continue. "I'll reach the region around Mount Paozu in a few days. I'll rest here for tonight."
As he spoke, a sphere of energy gathered in his hand. Roland swept it across the ground, clearing a flat space.
He clapped his hands and looked at the level ground with satisfaction. His control over energy waves had become much more precise lately. He set down his two-story house, then turned on the electric water heater to prepare some hot water.
The water heater would take a while to warm the water, so Roland went outside and practiced his moves. He swung his arms with all his might, lunged forward, and leaped sideways. Beads of sweat glistened as they dripped to the ground.
Training required constant effort. Even a little slackening could cause his strength to regress. If Sephiria found out he was slacking off, she'd probably get angry with him.
Thinking of Sephiria reminded Roland that he'd been away from Planet Vegeta for almost nine months. He wondered how she was doing. Going by the plot, Planet Vegeta would be destroyed in another three months.
That woman was especially stubborn. She might really obey her superiors and return to Planet Vegeta without a fuss.
As far as Roland was concerned, he didn't feel much attachment to Planet Vegeta or the Saiyans. He was the sort who only needed enough food for himself and had no one else to worry about. Whether Planet Vegeta was destroyed or not made no difference to him. But Sephiria, that aloof woman—perhaps because they'd spent several months together, he found he wasn't willing to watch her throw her life away.
Forget it. I'll find a way to save her when the time comes. She is my older sister, after all.
"If I want to save her, I'd better hone my skills. I don't want Sephiria laughing at me for overestimating myself." With that thought, Roland trained even harder.
Roland's battle power was around 460 now. He'd gained a few more points over the past few days and was nearing 470, but he was still far weaker than an elite warrior like Sephiria. The first time he'd met her, she'd had a battle power of over 4,200. She was surely even stronger now.
Sometimes Roland really envied Sephiria's talent.
That night, Roland took a bath and climbed into bed to rest. He watched a boring show on television while eating some fruit from the fridge.
The television was truly boring. Before long, Roland switched it off and prepared to sleep.
The night was still, the stars brilliant. Soft moonlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a delicate, translucent glow like a gauzy veil. Frogs croaked now and then, and insects buzzed in the darkness, completing the picture of a peaceful countryside night.
Bang! Bang, bang!!
A series of loud knocks sounded from outside.
Roland frowned and rolled over, but the knocking only grew louder, keeping him from falling asleep.
Is it some wild animal out here in the middle of nowhere? Hmph. I'll catch it and have it for breakfast tomorrow! He climbed out of bed, displeased, and went to open the door in his pajamas.
"What's all the noise? Do you want to get eaten?"
When he opened the door, there was no wild animal outside. Instead, a beautiful girl with long blond hair stood before him. She looked sixteen or seventeen, with graceful features and sparkling, crystal-bright eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, little brother. Did I wake you? I can't find my Hoi-Poi Capsule. Would you mind letting me stay the night?"
A woman.
Was this a scam, or some kind of honey trap?
Roland studied the girl without showing his thoughts. Once he confirmed she was alone, he stepped aside to let her in.
The blond girl quickly thanked him and walked right in, never considering whether he might have bad intentions.
"Are you the only one here, little brother? Isn't that dangerous? Where's your family?"
After entering, the blond girl began chattering away with questions.
Roland took a closer look at her. The girl had beautiful hair that reached her waist, and she wore a large, soft hat. A pale purple backpack hung behind her, and her bright red, tight-fitting dress set off her graceful, slender figure perfectly.
Perhaps because she'd been traveling a long way, her clothes were smudged with dust and she looked a little disheveled.
The pearl necklace around her neck suggested she was either rich or important. She was a real heiress.
"I live alone."
"You're really impressive," the girl said admiringly. "By the way, do you have a bathroom? I'd like to take a bath."
"..." Roland was at a loss for words. Was the Dragon Ball world really so innocent? It was the middle of the night, and a girl had walked right into a stranger's house, then casually announced she was going to take a bath.
Good thing she'd run into him. He pointed expressionlessly to the room beside the hallway. "It's in there. The water's already hot."
"Oh, that's wonderful! Big sister's going to take a bath now." The girl set her backpack and hat on the table, then cheerfully headed off to the bathroom alone. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside.
Does she really think this is her own home?
Roland was sure the girl wasn't trying to scam him. She was missing a screw.
He wondered what she had in her bag. A flicker of curiosity stirred, and Roland opened the purple backpack on the table. It contained few everyday items for a girl. Instead, there was a tiny laptop and several booklets filled with writing.
Roland picked up one of the booklets and looked at it. Then he suddenly realized he couldn't read the writing used on Earth.
Before you continue